Valved head construction for sparklet syphon



March 15, 1960 w. B. KOCHNER VALVED HEAD CONSTRUCTION FOR SPARKLET SYPHON Filed Jan. 5, 1956 ATTORNEYS.

VALVED HEAD CONSTRUCTION FOR SPARKLET SYPHON William B. Koehner, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Knapp- Monarch Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Application January '3, 1956, Serial No. 556,873

' 2 Claims. (Cl. 222394) This invention relates generally to a-valved head construction, and more particularly to an improved valved head of the type including gas-charging valve means and dispensing control valve means for use with a sparklet syphon device.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a unitary valved head construction for a sparklet-type syphon device having an improved charging valve which is readily replaceable while maintaining etfective liquidand gas-tight sealing closure.

It is another object to provide a valved head construction of this type, wherein a dispensing control valve and cooperating actuating means of simple, compact, low-i cost, reliable, and readily serviced construction are-provided, while maintaining eflective liquid and gas-tight sealing closure.

' Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize this 'invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

. Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a sparklet-type Referring now more particularly to. the drawing, I

have indicated generally at 10 a syphon bottle of the type commonly designated as a sparklet" syphon device. The syphon bottle includes a hollow vase 12'. having a closed bottom supported upon a base 14 and being upwardly open for cooperation with a valve head assembly 16. The assembly 16 serves to sealingly close the vase 12, to provide valve means for introducing a pressurizing gas into the vase 12, and to control dispensing flow outwardly therethrough.

The assembly 16 includes a unitary molded body 18, of plastic or like material. The body 18 is adapted at its lower end to elfect a gasand liquid-tight connection to the upper end of the vase 12. Reference may be had to my co-pending application, Serial No. 524,091, filed July 25, 1955 for a detailed description of a suitable sealing connection. A discharge passageway 20 terminates in a nozzle 22 for discharge flow of liquid'contents from within the vase 12. An internal boss 24 provides a tapped hole 26 in flow communication with the interior 2,928,576 t d Metof the vase 12. A threaded syphon tube 28 is received within the hole 26 and terminates downwardly at a point closely adjacent with the bottom of the'va'se 12.' -A bore 30 inwardly communicates the hole 26 with the -pas'sagey V A discharge valve for controlling dispensing flow from .the syphon bottle is provided in generally'horizontal orientation within the body 18, thereby'avoiding the ne cessity for a valve-receiving pocket within the head of substantial vertical depth, and achieving a head of compact form and size. The valve 32 is of the needle type, and cooperates with a valve seat 34 integrally formed within the body 18 intermediate the passages 30 and 20. A sealing bore 36 receives the seating or control end of the valve 32 for axially sliding movement therein. j A" piston portion 38 effects sliding engagement with the walls of the sealing bore 36; An annular groove 40 is formed. intermediate the piston 38 and the seating end of the valve 32, and receives an O-ring 42 therein for slidable sealing engagement with the walls of the sealing bore 36 forwardly of the piston 38. In this way, the dis-- charge valve '32 may be reciprocated for effecting con trol regulating of discharge flow, while at the same time 7 providing an effective liquidand gas-tight seal. 7 v H A valve stem portion 44 extends through an enlarged' bore portion 46 within the body 18. A spring 48 within' the bore 46 is biased in compression, and serves-tonormally urge the valve 32 into sealing engagemenhwith the seat 34. The bore 46 terminates in an outwardly open recess which is internally threaded to receive a threaded retaining plug 50. The outer end of the valve stem 44 slidably extends through the retaining plug 50'."

' The outer end of the valve stem 44 carries a bearing washer 52 held in position thereon by means of a retaining washer 54. An actuating lever 56 is cooperatingly secured to the stem 44 in removable manner. The lever 56 is preferably of unitary molded form, such as plastic or like material, and is internally hollow at its upper end. As best seen in Figure 5 of the drawing, the lever '56 provides at its upper end a pair of parallel spaced bearing flanges 57 and 58. The bearing flanges are contiguous with a pair of inwardly arcuate surfaces 59 and 60, which are in turn contiguous with a transverse lock; flange 62. In this way, a downwardly open slot is formed bytheleverend. e I

- Below the bearing flanges 57 and 58, the lever 56, is v undercut at 64. The body 18 provides a steppedpor-f tion forming a fulcrum shoulder 66 (see Figures 2 and' 3) upon which the undercut 64 of the le've r is adaptedjj to seat. The body 18 provides a recessed portion68ilof f sufficiently enlarged form to permit the lever jen'd to'bej slipped over the bearing washer 52 and received within needle valve 32 away from its seat 34. As'seen in Figure 3, a flow passage will be completed from thebore 30 to the discharge passageway 20. Upon manual release of the lever 56, the spring 48 will serve to return the valve 32 to a closed-flow position of seating engagement against the valve seat 34. Simple and efiective valve actuation is obtained by this construction, while at theisamev time maintaining an effective liquidand gas-tight sealing closure. v i

The mechanical cooperation between the lever 56 and the valve stein 44 permits a substantially horizontal orienr eta oi the elongated valve within the body 18.. The.

valve communicates with the inner surface of the body 18 and the interior of the vase 12 therebelow only through the bore 30 and the syphon tube128. Horizontal posi-j tioning-of the valve inthis way at a location substantially high within the head assembly lfiresultsin a'smootbly continuous and unobstructed internal body surface, except for the single small tapped hole 26. Such an arrange ment permits simple and thorough cleaning of all surfaces of the body 18 which are directly exposed to the fluid within the vase 12. The use of a unitary needletype valve,,an integrally formed valve seat, and the elimination of multiple-piece assemblies, achieves a construc-.

tion which is-sanitary and readily adapted for replacement and cleaning of parts.

. spring 162 to a position of limiting engagement against an I internal .wall portion of the .plug 72., The check. valve 94 is thereby moved away from the valve seatQG, so that when the piercing pin .78ypunctures the bulb, direct flow communication is provided into the vase 12.

The. body 18 is integrally formed with a key portion 110 which is slidablyreceived within a cooperatingly formed keyway 111 of the, plug 72. In this way, rota"- tion of the plug 72 within the bore 70 is precluded, while axial sliding movement during assembly and disassembly of parts is readily permitted. t

A cover 114 is hingedly securedat 116 to'the body 18. A spring latch 118 formed by a cover bracket 120 ,As best seen in Figure 4 of theidrawing, the-body 18 is formed with a bore 70 which communicates inwardly with the interior of the'vase 12, and which terminates outwardly in an enlarged and outwardly open recess 70 A hollowplug member 72ofgene'ra1ly cylindrical form is received within the bore70 in axially slidable manner The plug 72 is formed with an' internal bore 74 adapted to receive a flanged member 76in axially slidable manner. vThe member 76 provides a piercing pin-78 at its outer end, which is of the well-known type commonly used to effect a puncture of a bulb. of compressed gas.

The inner end of the plug 72 is formedwith a peripheral groove 80, which receives an O-ring 82 therein for sealing contact against the bore 70. A shoulder 84 is formed forwardly of the groove 80, and receives a rea taining washer sdthereagainst. The-washer 86, when snapped. into position upon the shoulder 84, serves to prevent withdrawal of the plug .72 from'the bore 70.

.Ihe outer. end of the plug 72 is formed with an internalannular groove 88 which receives an O-ring 90 therein. The groove 88- is located outwardly of the pointed end of. the piercing pin 78, and the adjacent inner wall portions of the plug 72 serve to define a bulb receiving chamber 92. In this way entry of the sealed outlet end of a. conventional sparklet bulbinto the plug 72, serves to effect initial sealing engagement with the Q-Iing 90 prior. to puncture by the piercing pin 78.

The outer end of the plug 72 is slightly enlarged and externally screw-threaded at93. The axially inward encl oi thepornon 93 abuts the adjacent body portion which,

defines the outward end of the bore 70, and cooperates with the washer 8,6 to provide a predetermined axial posi; tioning of the plug 72. The threaded portion 93 is spaced fromthe adjacent side wallsof the enlarged recess .70. In this way, asparklet bulb may be disposed within a bulb holder of the type having an internally threaded portion, in the well-known manner, and the bulb holder may.

theube threaded onto the plug 72, thereby progressively "feed ng the bulb inwardly within the plug 72 for initial f y h pinas.

. ealing contact with the 0 ring 90 and subsequent pierc- A check valve .94 is threaded into the innerend oi: the fianged'member 76 forintegral attachment and cooperating movement therewith. The valve 24 engages a seat 96 iormedat the inner end of the plug 72. A bor98 is f ormed within the valve 94 and communicates with lateral passages 100 for discharge flow. A spring 102, biased in compression, urges the flanged member 76 in an outward direction within the bore 74, thereby effecting seating engagement between the check valve 94 and the seat. 96. In, this way, liquid and gas flow from the intcrior of the; vase 12 outwardly through the plug 72 is pre en ed. Q

Bores 1M and lllfi provide continuous flow commune ation through the. piercing pin 78 and the flanged mernher '16., The. bore 98, and the passages 100*,of the check valve .24 complete a flow path into. the interior of the I headls and the vase 12. It will be apparent that whena sparldet bulb engages. the piercing pin 7.8, the flanged rnen tber'ld is slidably moved against the force of -tbe mounted within the enlarged recess 70' cooperates with the hinge 116 to retain the cover'114 in full OPEH'POSltion. A secondspring latch 122 is also provided by the I cover bracket for cooperation witb the cover 114 to retain it in 'its'zfull closed position.

,Itis an important-aspect of the presentj'invention tbat the plug member 72, which serves to support the combined bulb piercingand one-way check valve means, is

removably received within the head 18. The provision] of cooperating sealing means 82, retaining means 86, and key means 110, permits the achievement of a fixed positioning of the plug member 72 in liquidand gas-tight sealing relation within the head 18, while at the same time enabling the various parts, to be readily removed for cleaning or replacement.

In this way, a simple and entirely mechanical assembly of parts is, provided, thereby eliminating the necessity for using heat, solder, and

like methodsof connection which would prevent the use. of plastic materials for unitary molding of the head 18. Such a construction permits convenient replacement of parts. at any time without therequirement of heat or power tools.

Changes may be made in the construction and ar- What I claim as new and desire to obtain by Letters body serving to sealingly close said vase and providing adownwardly directed discharge passage and an upwardly directed syphon passage forming an inward intersection. therewith, said syphon and discharge passagesprovid ing means for fluid flow outwardly therethrough from the interior of said vase, said body being formed with a. generally horizontally disposed bore fully enclosed with-..

in said body, said bore terminating inwardly at said passage means intersection in a valve seat integrally formed by said body and terminating outwardly in an exteriorly open recess, a unitary elongated valve member'disposed in'said bore and providing a head at its one end adapted when moved inwardly to sealingly engage said valve seat for closing said passage means and providing a stem at its other end extending into said recess; said valve member having an intermediate piston portion serving to slidably engage the walls of said bore, resilient sealing means carried by said valve member forwardly of said piston portion and cooperating with the walls of said bore and with said piston portion to prevent fluidflow outwardly through said bore, a retaining member removably received within said bore, at its outward end, said stem extending slidably through said retaining member, spring means within said bore biased. in

compression between said piston portion and said retaining member to urge said valve member toward its seating: position, and handle means rcmovably secured to, the Outer end oi said valve stem at said recess for t t withdrawing said valve member against the bias of said spring toward its open position.

2. A head construction for a gas-pressurized syphon device, comprising an open-ended hollow vase, a unitary body serving to sealingly close said vase and providing a downwardly directed discharge passage and an upwardly directed syphon passage forming an inward intersection therewith, said syphon and discharge passages providing means for fluid flow outwardly therethrough from the interior of said vase, said body being formed with a generally horizontally disposed bore fully enclosed within said body, said bore terminating inwardly at said passage means intersection in a valve seat integrally formed by said body and providing an enlarged bore portion terminating outwardly in an exteriorly open recess, a unitary elongated valve member disposed in said bore, said valve member providing a head at its one end adapted when moved inwardly to sealingly engage said valve seat for closing said passage means and providing a stem at its other end extending through said enlarged bore portion into said recess, said valve mem her having an intermediate piston portion serving to axially slidably engage the walls of said bore, an annular groove intermediate said head and piston portion and resilient sealing means therein cooperating with the walls 35 spasms of said bore and with said piston portion to prevent fluid flow outwardly through said enlarged boreportion, a retaining member removably received within said enlarged bore portion at its outward end, said stem extending slidably through said retaining member, spring means within said enlarged bore portiongbiased in com pression between said-piston portion and said retaining member to urge said valve member toward its seating position, and handle means removably secured to the outer end of said valve stem at said recess for withdrawing said valve member against the bias of said spring toward its open position. I

References Cited in the file of this patent V UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,140,034 Hansen May 18, 1915 1,379,357 Norman May 24, 1921 2,222,247 Ward Nov. 19,1940 2,454,621 Allen Nov. 23, 1948 2,547,052 Sollmann Apr. 3, 1951 2,730,093 Neely Jan. 10, 1956 2,794,452 Quam June 4, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 425,829 Great Britain Mar. 21, 1935 

